Of birds & hedges & flights of imagination
Tuesday, October 5, 2010 
During an afternoon walk this past January, I photographed this sweet bird (possibly a house sparrow) perched on a bare branch. Though I also collected images of seawall art, early-flowering shrubs & birch bark trees, it was my favourite "capture" of the day. And ever since that afternoon -- and I suppose for a long time before, too -- I've wondered why small creatures with feathers and wings so enthrall and intrigue bipedal, ground-based humans like me. Well, I suppose there's an obvious clue in the phrase bipedal, ground-based humans. But I'm also continually looking for more scientific as well as poetic reasons. So one night, when I had trouble sleeping, instead of counting sheep, I read words on birds and wrote this post for The Hedge Society:
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Reader Comments (4)
That is a cute bird. I always get excited when I spot a "rare" bird in my backyard.
http://nycgardening.blogspot.com/2010/07/biggest-bird-ive-ever-seen-in-my.html
Birds certainly are welcome visitors in our gardens, aren't they. I was delighted to read on your blog that you had a baby blue heron visit yours.
Wonderful, with the emphasis firmly placed on the wonder bit, Elaine.
I think it's also because birds are wild creatures that live amongst us urban-dwelling humans; the first wild creature most little people encounter is be a bird, pausing somewhere in their city world. That sense of wonder (and yes, it's got a lot to do with flight!) will never leave me.
AND they sing.
You are always so insightful, Lucy. Thank you. Yes, they can sing. And so gloriously.